So after spending most of November and December being completely burnt out, I decided that wasn’t any fun. And then I decided that I really don’t think I feel like going through another case of burn out like that ever again.
So one of my plans, among many, to stay on top of things is to start looking for inspiration every week and writing it down. Have you ever tried this? It’s similar, I think, to doing a gratitude journal.
I thought I’d share them here every week for a bit and who knows? Maybe some of the odds and ends will inspire you too!
Colour
Bright colours on white always cheer me up. They are perfect antidotes to winter. This bright piece of street art near Vancouver’s Olympic Village made me feel like spring had to be on its way soon.
This year for January and Feb I did little floral drawings for the colours of the rainbow a la my 10 minute doodles. That wasn’t really what inspired me – it was jus a fun thing to do! But, once I got them all done and lined them up all together like a rainbow, that inspired me and made me silly happy. So now I’ve decided to do a similar project with Easter Eggs for the next few weeks!
Cherry Blossoms
There are a few cherry trees down the street from me – they’re always the first to blossom every spring. This weekend, they sproinged! Nothing makes me happier and wanting to pull my camera out more than cherry blossoms – and in Vancouver, with all the different varieties, they bloom from February right through May. So, as you may have guessed, my annual onslaught of cherry blossom photos on instagram has commenced! And really, they should be called cheery blossoms instead of cherry blossoms – they’re just so darn cheerful inducing!
MashUp
I have been waiting for MashUP ever since I heard the Vancouver Art Gallery was planning it, and it finally opened on Friday. For the first time ever, the art gallery has opened an exhibit that over the entire building – every single floor in the gallery – all on the MashUp, starting with Pablo Picasso and running up to present day.
Collage, montages, readymade, remixing, splicing and weaving, vidding and fan art, hip hop, dubbing, street art, using mainstream advertising in art work… it’s all here and it’s all stuff I totally dig. It’s all so big and bold. I went to check it out after it opened and it was phenomenal – it’s so big I couldn’t get through it all in one visit, despite wandering round for 2 and a half hours before I was on sensory overload. I’m so glad I have a membership and can go back whenever I want (and skip the lines!).
The photo above is of a specially commissioned installation piece by Barbara Kruger that takes over the rotunda of the art gallery. You have to see it for yourself – I couldn’t get the whole thing into one frame but boom! It has impact. I think I may have got enough inspiration for the rest of the month from that very well spent 2.5 hours. If you’re in Vancouver between now and June, go check it out.
So that’s what’s got me inspired this week! What’s got you inspired?
Oh, man! MashUP looks incredible! If only it weren’t more expensive to fly to Vancouver than Paris… In other sad news, there are daffodils popping up in my garden, and they are going to be very sad when it snows tomorrow.
It was so good – I think you would have loved it. I plan on going at least two more times before it closes in June. Maybe more 😀
Inspiring to realize that simple ideas can be inspiring and rejuvenating!
It really is!
Glad to hear that you are finding and doing things that inspire you. The MashUP sounds like it does deserve a few more visits and I’m so envious of your beautiful blooming cherry blossoms! Have a great week.
I soak up every inch of cherry blossom season. They are just so beautiful and they make me very happy!